Gelatin sponge, also known as gelfoam, is a porous, pliable and off-white colored medical sponge made of purified pigskin gelatin. It is commonly used in surgeries and post-operative wound care to control bleeding and absorb exudate from wounds and surgical sites. They may contain antibiotics, thrombogenic agents or other active chemicals. It is sterile, non-antigenic, non-pyrogenic and non-allergenic for use in humans.

Composition and Properties

Gelatin sponge is made from purified skin and bone of pigs through a process of acid extraction and purification. It is composed of cross-linked gelatin chains that aggregate into a three-dimensional fibrous network structure. This porous network structure allows Gelatin Sponge to absorb 20 times its weight in fluids. It can absorb blood and prevent bleeding at the surgical site without exerting pressure on tissues or preventing visualization. It is non-reactive, very stable and breaks down slowly in the body through degeneration by proteases. This property allows it to be safely used internally without causing any noteworthy degradation problems.

Uses in Surgeries

Some major uses of it in surgeries include:

- Hemostasis: It is one of the most commonly used hemostatic agents. It is effective in controlling ooze and seepage of blood from capillaries, venules as well as small arterioles during and after surgery.

- Absorbing Exudates: The porous structure of it allows it to absorb fluids like blood, exudate and drainage from wounds. This property keeps the surgical site dry and prevents complications.

- Separating Tissues: Gelatin sponge sheets help in separating tissues and providing a space during procedures like laminectomies that require visibility between tissues.

- Delivering Medications: Antibiotics like bacitracin can be loaded on it to deliver drugs directly at the surgical site and prevent infections.

Uses in Wound Care

Some important uses of it in post-operative and chronic wound care include:

- Absorbing Exudate: The absorbent property helps gelatin sponge remove excess exudate from wounds and maintain a dry wound bed which is preferable for healing.

- Preventing Adhesions: After surgeries, sponge sheets are placed over wounds or organs to prevent adhesions and fistula formation between tissues.

- Delivering Medications: Antibiotics, antifungal or thrombin can be infused in it to deliver localized drug therapy to wounds. This prevents systemic toxicity.

- Covering Grafts and Flaps: It provides a temporary protective covering and absorbs fluids under skin grafts and tissue flaps to promote healing.

- Filling Cavities: In draining wounds or post-debridement cavities, it helps fill dead space and form good granulation tissue.

Advantages

The key advantages of using it include:

- Hemostatic properties effectively control bleeding from capillaries and small vessels.

- Porous structure absorbs excess blood and fluids efficiently without exerting pressure.

- Easy and flexible application into surgical sites, wounds or cavities of any shape or size.

- Slowly bioabsorbed by proteases within 4-6 weeks without disruption of healing.

- Causes minimum foreign body reaction, scarring or adhesions upon degradation.

- Non-antigenic and non-pyrogenic gelatin gel is well tolerated by tissues with no toxicity.

- Can be loaded with various drugs for local drug delivery and infection prophylaxis.

- Inexpensive and broadly available medical tool for a variety of surgical and wound care needs.

- Versatile hemostatic sponge applicable to a wide range of procedures from minor injuries to major surgeries.

- Requires no special storage conditions with a long shelf life of 2 years.

elatin sponge has emerged as an indispensable hemostatic agent and wound dressing in medical practices. Its porous, pliable and absorbent structure combined with excellent biocompatibility allows safe and effective use for controlling bleeding during surgeries as well as absorbing exudates from wounds and expediting healing. Loaded with drugs, it also enables localized drug therapy for enhanced wound care outcomes. With over 60 years of clinical success, gelatin sponge remains a very useful and economical gelatin-based medical material worldwide.
 
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